Transmission-gearing.



H. C. MGBRAIR. TRANSMISSION GBARING.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1911.

Patented Jan. 19. 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

'M/ENTUR Henry C. MBrazr,

W ATTORNEY WITNESSES H. 0. MoBRAIR.

TRANSMISSION SHARING.

APPLICATION FILED ROV.21,1911.

1,125,358. Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR m Henr C. M Bra/r.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

IN l/E/V TOR Henry C. j Brcn'r,

3 SHEETS-SHEET s.

1 4 ATTORNEY WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY C. McBRAIR, 0F MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 DIRECT DRIVE GEARCOMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.

TRANSMISSION-GEARING.

Application filed November 21, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. MGBRAIR, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Middletown, in the county of Orange and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTransmission-Gearing, of .which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, whereby any one skilled in the art may make and usethe same.

The invention relates to transmission mechanism and particularly to atransmission gearing especially adapted for automobile uses.

It embodies some of the salient features of a co-pending applicationentitled Variable speed gearing, Serial No. 534,468, filed Dec. 22,1909, and has the additional improvement of a shifting device which willpositively shift the various gears without frictional losses and willeffect a locking of the various gears in any desired position.

The object of the invention is to provide in conjunction withtransmission caring a simple, positive and effective shi ting andlocking mechanism which will assure proper intermeshing of the variousgear couplets.

A further object is to provide a shifting and interlocking mechanism fora transmission mechanism which will be effective upon purely rotarymovements.

The invention is for convenience illustrated in connection with anautomobile transmission mechanism.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a partial horizontal sectionthrough the rear axle and appurtenant gearing. Fig. 2 is across-sectional view through the axle on the line 00a: of Fig. 2,illustrating the connections and links of the shifting device. Fig. 3 isa top-plan view of the gear casing as mounted upon the rear axle. Fig. 4is an edge view partially broken in section of one of the shifting ringmembers and the antifriction bearing used therewith, the parts beingarranged side by side in position for assembly. Fig. 5 is a frontelevation of the shifting ring illustrated in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detailperspective view of the shifting ring member which cooperates with thering member of Fig. 4. Figs. 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views on enlargedscale illustrating the camming action of the shifting ring members.

Referring to the drawings, the invention Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

Serial No. 661,611.

is illustrated in connection with the rear axle of an automobile. Insaid drawings, 3 denotes the main driving shaft which is suitablysupported and extends rearwardly t0 the casing 4 of the rear axle which,in this instance, has arranged within it transmission gearing. v

The axle is of the divided type having sections 5, 6, coupled through adifferential gearing 7, not specifically illustrated herein.

Extending within the housing 4, is the main shaft 3, suitably supportedin antifriction bearings 8, and having secured thereto pinions 9, 10,and 11. These pinions are arranged to mesh respectively with drivengears 12, 13, 14, to give a forward mrition at different speeds to thedriving ax e.

There is also a reversing gear 15, which may be brought into mesh withthe pinion 9. The gear couplets 9, 12, represent the low speed while thegear couplets 11, 14 represent the high speed and in any arrangement ofgear couplets there is always a positive drive from the main drivingshaft to the driven shaft with all other gear couplets out of mesh.Thus, there is a direct drive for each speed.

The reversing gear 15, is secured to the sleeve 16, of the differentialgearing 7, which sleeve is suitably supported at one end of the casing 4in ball bearings 17. Secured to, but axially movable upon the sleeve 16,in the same manner as the reversing gear 15, are the gears 14, 13, whilethe gear 12 is splined to a sleeve 18, extending from the gear 13.

The reversing gear 15, and the high speed gear 14 have sleeves 19, 20,extending toward each other and surmounted by shifting deviceshereinafter described. Similar shifting devices are arranged upon thesleeve or hub 18 of the gear 13, and upon the sleeve or hub 21, of thegear 12. The same type of shifting device is used for each of the gearsand is adapted to move said gear axially of the supporting shaft orsleeve and lock it in definite position after movement. The onlydifference in the shifting devices is in the position and lead of thecam slots of the shifting rings.

In Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 the shifting mechanism applicable to each ofthe gears is illustrated, and in each instance, the rotary members ofthe shifting devices are i. ring 27, of a ball bearing, the inner ring28,

of which is non-rotatively secured to the sleeve or hub of the gear tobe shifted. This ring 26, has extending from substantially diametricallyopposite sides cam lugs 29, 30,

- which project through cam slots 31, 32, in a rotary shifting member33. These lugs are formed with angularly disposed sides 34, 35, andparallel straight sides 36, 37. Each of the cam slots of the rotaryshifting rings likewise has an angularly disposed opening 38, which, ateither end, terminates in straight slots 39, 40. It follows that whenthe lugs 29, 30, occupy a position in the straight portions of the slots39, 40, their straight sides 26, 27, will rest against the side walls ofthe slots and maintain them against lateral movement.

\Vhenever the rotary member 33, is moved, the lugs 29, 30, will causethe shifting ring 26, and the contained bearing and gear to move axiallyof the supporting shaft due to the cam openings 31, 32. The lugs 29, 30,are extended through the cam slots of the rotary rotating ring 33, andinto the fixed part of the casing as illustrated in Fig. 6. Therefore,the rings 26, are non-rotary but may move axially of the shaft.

\Vith the arrangement as shown, a single lever is utilized to controlthe position of the various movable gears and when used on anautomobile, the well-known and almost universally used type H levercontrol may be used.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, a suitable operating ]ever (not shown) isoperatively connected with links 42, 43. These in turn, through levers44, 45, actuate short shafts 46, 47. These shafts are connected throughsuitable levers and links with the several rotary shifting membersillustrated in Fig. 7, and shown in position upon the several gears at48, 49, 50, 51.

As illustrated the rotary shifting member 48 of the reversing gear 15,and the rotary shifting member 50, of the low speed gear 12, areinterconnected so that opposed movements of the lever may bring eitherof said gears into meshing position with the pinion 9, and insuring thedisconnection of one gear before the engagement of the other. Similarly,the rotary shifting member 49, of the gear 14, and the rotary shiftingmember 51, of the gear 13, are interconnected so that a single backwardand forward movement of the lever will give proper intermeshingengagement of the intermediate speed gear 13, with its pinion 10, or theengagement of the high speed gear 14, with its pinion 11.

From the above, it is apparent that there lnust be a separation of gearsof one couplet before there is an engagement of the gears of anothercouplet.

The advantages of the shifting device, in connection with thearrangement of gears is apparent. E'ther of the gears may be shiftedinto and out of meshing position by a simple rotary movement of therotating shifting ring This ring having a double ball bearing within itand between it and the gear to be shifted, will move freely and withoutfriction and when located at either extremity of the cam slot, will belocked in place without liability of creeping and without requiring saidretaining device or looks upon the operating levers. No quadrants orinter-locks are required in conjunction with the operating lever and theshifting of the gears may be effected with the greatest ease. The camslots gradually carry the gear forward into mesh and out of mesh and theanti-friction bearings relieve all side thrusts and prevent the tendencyof creep between the rotary operating ring and the shifting ring member.

Obviously, the exact details of construction of cam slots might bevaried to a considerable extent without departing from the spirit orintent of the invention.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A transmission gearing embodying a casing, a driven shaft mountedtherein, a driving shaft having a bearing in said casing, beveledpinions permanently secured upon said driving shaft, said shaft beingnon-movable in an axial direction, beveled gears axially movable uponthe driven shaft, each of said gears provided with a rotary shiftingdevice comprising a ball race secured to the gear, a cooperating ballrace held against rotary movement and a rotary ring held against axialmovement and having a slot and cam connection with the ball raceswhereby the gear may be axially moved toward and away from its pinionupon the driving shaft.

2. In a transmission gearing, a casing, a divided shaft having bearingsin said casing, a differential mechanism intermediate the sections ofsaid divided shaft, a driving shaft, a series of pinions permanentlysecured to said shaft, a series of gears axially movable with referenceto the divided shaft, ball races operatively arranged on the hubs ofeach of said gears, cooperating ball races non-rotatively mounted withreference to the gears though axially movable therewith and rotary meansfor axially moving either of said gears and ball races.

3. In a transmission gearing, a casing, a

divided shaft having bearings in said casing, a differential mechanismintermediate the sections of said divided shaft, a driving shaft, aseriesof pinions permanently secured to said shaft, a series of gearsborne upon and axially movable With reference to the divided shaft, ballraces operatively arranged on the hubs of each of said gears,cooperating ball races non-rotatively mounted With reference to thegears though axially movable therewith, rotary means for axially movingsaid gears and ball races, said means including devices for insuringproper intermeshing movements of the gears With reference to the fixedpinions and means for ac- 15 Copies of this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

